Tilt hinge

Abstract

In order to provide a tilt hinge small in size and diameter capable of generating a stable friction torque of approximately 100 kgf/mm, a hinge friction-rotatably coupling a first member and a second member that are relatively opened/closed includes: a holder attached to one of the first member and the second member; a shaft attached to the other one of the first member and the second member to be rotatable relative to the holder and immovable in an axial direction; a plurality of first friction discs restrained by the holder to be rotatable and movable in the axial direction, with the shaft being inserted through insertion holes thereof; a plurality of second friction discs interposed between the first friction discs to be movable in the axial direction with rotation thereof restrained by the shaft; and a plurality of disc springs and/or spring washers attached to the shaft so as to bring the first friction discs and the second friction discs to be in contact with each other by pressing the first friction discs and the second friction discs in the axial direction, wherein the disc springs and/or the spring washers are provided outside the holder in which the first friction discs and the second friction discs are stacked on each other and inside the holder.

1. A tilt hinge friction-rotatably coupling a first member and a second member that are relatively opened or closed, the hinge comprising:
 a holder attached to one of the first member and the second member and having a disc housing portion; 
 a shaft attached to the other one of the first member and the second member to be rotatable relative to the holder and immovable in an axial direction; 
 a plurality of first friction discs housed in and restrained by the disc housing portion of the holder, each of the first friction discs having a central insertion hole through which the shaft passes; 
 a plurality of second friction discs housed in the disc housing portion and interposed between the first friction discs, the second friction discs being mounted on the shaft and rotatable with the shaft; and 
 a resilient means mounted on the shaft to urge the first friction discs and the second friction discs into contact with each other, 
 wherein one portion of the resilient means is disposed between a fastening means attached to an end of the shaft and one of the first friction discs and the second friction discs, and 
 wherein at least one other portion of the resilient means is disposed between any one or combination of: the first and second friction discs, two first friction discs, and two second friction discs, within the disc housing portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The tilt hinge according to  claim 1 , wherein the resilient means comprises
 a plurality of disc springs and/or spring washers. 
 
     
     
       3. The tilt hinge according to  claim 2 , wherein the disc springs and/or the spring washers of the other portion of the resilient means are disposed within the holder and wherein at least one said disc springs and/or the spring washers is provided between at least one pair of the first and second friction discs. 
     
     
       4. The tilt hinge according to  claim 2 , wherein one or more disc springs and/or spring washers of the resilient means are provided outside the disc housing portion. 
     
     
       5. The tilt hinge according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the first friction discs and the second friction discs is made of a suitable material of a lower hardness value than the other. 
     
     
       6. The tilt hinge according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first friction discs has at an outer periphery a stopper portion that engages a catching groove of the disc housing portion. 
     
     
       7. The tilt hinge according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastening means is formed by caulking one end of the shaft. 
     
     
       8. The tilt hinge according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first friction discs or the second friction discs comprises an oil pocket portion for lubricating a contact portion where the first and second friction discs are in contact with each other. 
     
     
       9. A tilt hinge for connecting a first member and a second member which are opened and closed with respect to each other in a manner to be friction-rotatable, the tilt hinge comprising:
 a holder comprising a mounting portion, a case portion having a disk housing portion with a catching groove, and a side wall with a bearing hole mounted on one side of the disk housing portion, the bearing hole having the same axis as the disk housing portion; 
 a shaft comprising a deformed small-diameter portion, a flange portion, and a mounting portion, the shaft being rotatably mounted on the bearing hole with the small diameter portion penetrating in an axial direction through the disk housing portion, the mounting portion of the shaft being attached to one of the first and second member; 
 a plurality of first friction disks with stopper portions, the first friction disks being mounted on the small-diameter portion of the shaft in an axial direction through a circular insertion hole of each one of the first friction disks, the first friction disks being held by the disk housing portion, the stopper portions engaging the catching groove; 
 a plurality of second friction disks having deformed insertion holes in the central axial direction, the second friction disks being mounted on the small-diameter portion of the shaft through the deformed insertion holes of each one of the second friction disks and interposed between the first friction disks, and the second friction disks being disposed in the disk housing portion and rotatable along with the shaft; 
 an elastic means comprising disc springs and/or spring washers provided on the shaft for press-contacting with each other the first friction disks and the second friction disks, the disc springs and/or spring washers each having mounting holes for receiving the deformed small-diameter portion of the shaft; 
 a fastening means attached on an end of the shaft to place the elastic means under a desired load; 
 wherein a portion of the disc springs and/or the spring washers is disposed between the fastening means and one of the first friction discs and second friction discs, and wherein at least one other portion of the disc springs and/or the spring washers is disposed between any one or combination of: the first and second friction discs, two first friction discs, and two second friction disks, within the disk housing portion. 
 
     
     
       10. The tilt hinge according to  claim 9 , wherein the disk housing portion comprises at least one pair of the first and second friction discs, each pair comprising either one of the first friction discs flanked by two second friction discs, with one on each side, or one of the second friction discs flanked by two first friction discs, with one on each side. 
     
     
       11. The tilt hinge according to  claim 10 , wherein two or more disc springs or spring washers are provided between each pair of the first and second friction discs. 
     
     
       12. The tilt hinge according to  claim 10 , wherein one or more disc springs and/or spring washers are provided outside the disk housing portion. 
     
     
       13. The tilt hinge according to  claim 9 , wherein one of the first friction discs and second friction discs is made of a suitable material that has a lower hardness value than the other. 
     
     
       14. The tilt hinge according to  claim 13 , wherein the material with the lower hardness value is nickel-plated phosphor bronze H-plate. 
     
     
       15. The tilt hinge according to  claim 9 , wherein the fastening means comprises a clamping nut adapted to fit a male screw portion of the shaft. 
     
     
       16. The tilt hinge according to  claim 9 , wherein the fastening means is formed by caulking one end of the shaft. 
     
     
       17. The tilt hinge according to anyone of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first friction discs comprises an oil pocket portion formed on an upper edge. 
     
     
       18. The tilt hinge according to anyone of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the second friction discs comprises an oil pocket portion formed about the deformed insertion hole. 
     
     
       19. The tilt hinge according to anyone of  claim 9 , further comprising one of the first friction discs attached to the side wall of the case portion and one of the second friction discs attached to the flange portion of the shaft.